Skirt.



B. F. MILLER.

SKIRT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, IQIS- 1,196,800. Iatentedfiopr. 5, 1916.

ora ion.

BENJAMIN F. MILLER 'OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SKIRT.

waeco.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to skirts, and particularly to improvements in skirts formed of elastic material.

The object of my invention is to provide a skirt that will fit smoothly around the waist and over the hips, and accommodate itself to various sizes and shapes of figure.

A further and particular object of my invention is to provide a skirt of the character stated, formed of elastic material so as to readily conform to the figure, and of such construction as to prevent stretching of the waist of the skirt beyond certain limits.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

lVith these objects in view my invention consists generally in a skirtformed of elastic material, such as silk jersey, provided with a non-elastic facing strip at the waist line, and in arranging an elastic strip between the facing and the adjacent portions of the garment, stitched to both the garment and facing strip while said elastic strip is stretched.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a skirt embodying my invention: Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. 1 upon an enlarged scale: Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 upon an enlarged scale, and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4E4 of Fig. 1, also illustrated upon an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings 1 represents the skirt which is formed of elastic material such as silk jersey, or other elastic material which clings to the figure and conforms to the shape thereof. At the waist line 2, the skirt is provided with a facing strip, 4 secured to the inner side thereof by upper and lower lines of stitching 3 and 8. The strip 4 is formed of inelastic material Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

so as to prevent undue stretching of the waist of the garment.

Arranged between the facing strip and the adjacent portion of the body of the skirt is a relatively short elastic band 5. This is preferably located at the back of the skirt, and is secured to both the facing strip 4 and the body 1 by lines of stitching 6 and 7 while the elastic strip 5 is stretched. A second and shorter band 9 is'sewed to the skirt at a point below the waist line at the center of the skirt at the rear, and directly below the band 5. This band 9 is secured to the garment by lines of stitching 10, is located against the inner face of the garment, and is provided with a covering strip 11.

The elastic bands 5 and 9 are sewed to the garment when the elastic bands are stretched to the limit, so that when they contract, they give to the garment a solid compact gathered appearance as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. In other Words, when the garment is loose, it forms a compact gathering along the elastic bands, but when the garment is .75

that with a skirt as described, all'gathers will smooth out when the skirt is on the figure, so that the skirt will cling snugly to the figure and have a smooth and attractive appearance; also that the facing strip 4 will prevent undue stretching of the material of the skirt at the waist line.

While I have referred to the skirt as of elastic material, it is to be understood. that this term may apply to the whole skirt or to the body portion only in which latter event the fiounce 11 may be of inelastic material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A skirt composed of elastic material having a relatively short band of elastic material secured to the center of the rear of the skirt by means of lines of stitching extending through the skirt and the band, said lines of stitching securing the parts together when the elastic band is stretched, whereby the material of the skirt is caused to gather 5 limiting the expansion ofthe elastic band and the skirt at the Waist.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecification in the presence 01' two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. 'MILLEB.

Witnesses MARIE JACKSON, CHAS. E. Po'r'rs. 

